Wire-tension device



(NOMode1..)

A. E. KINTNER.

WIRE TENSION DEVICE.

No; 476,655. Patentefi June 7, 1892.

War/9 Units!) STATES PATENT Orricn.

ALCUIN E. KINTNER, OF PAINESVILLE, OHIO.

WIRE-TENSION DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 476,655, dated June 7,1892.

Application filed February 29, 1892. Sen'al No. 423,122. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALCUIN E. KINTNER, a citizen of the UnitedStates,residing atPaines' ville, in the county of Lake and State ofOhio, have invented a certain new Improved Vire- Tension Device, ofwhich the following is a full, clear, and complete description.

My invention relates to the construction of a device used particularlyin connection with wire fences for tightening the wires whenthey becomeslack by the action of frost and heat or by any other means. I do not,however, confine the scope of my invention to wire fences, as theinvention is valuable wherever it is desired to obtain a wire tension.

That the invention may be seen and fully understood by others, referencewill be had to the following specification and annexed drawings, inwhich- Figure 1 illustrates a section of wire fence with the improveddevice as attached to one of the posts thereof. Fig. 2 is a plan view ofFig. 1. Figs. 3 and 4 are views of detached parts of the devicehereinafterfully explained, and Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail viewshowing the means of attaching the wire.

Like letters of reference designate like parts in the drawings andspecification.

In the following specification and accompanying drawings I refer to mydevice only as used in connection with wire fences; but it will readilybe seen that the device may be applied in any case requiring wiretension, and the operation remains the same.

It is well known to all familiar with wire fences that in the winter thewire will be taut from the contraction caused by the cold; but when theweather becomes warm the heat will make the wire expand or stretch, thuscausing said wire to sag between the posts, and thereby destroying theutility of the fence. I overcome this objection by the use of a deviceconstructed and operating as follows:

A post a, preferably square or polygonal, is placed in the line of thefence at every fifty rods, more or less, as the case may require, or atthe discretion of the builder. On the post a I attach my device. Acollar or drum 1), Figs. 2, 3, and 4, is made rigid on the post a at thedesired place, as shown in Fig.1. Extending out from the lower part ofthe drum b are one or more lugs c, substantially of the form shown inFigs. 1 and 4:, having the shoulders c on each side thereof. A sleeve clsurrounds the collar or drum I). Said sleeve is provided around itslower edge with a series of notches c. The notches are made of the formshowu,so as to pass freely over the lugs 0, when by a partial turn theshoulders 0 will engage with the shoulders e of the notches e, theobject of which is hereinafter fully explained. In the sleeve are twoeyes, one of which is shown at f, Fig. l, and enlarged in Fig. 5. Theseeyes are provided with the lugs f. One terminal of a piece of wire 9(say fifty rods long, for example) is made fast to a post by any knownmeans and strung through staples h on the other posts a terminating atthe other end in a bend around one of the lugs f, as shown in Figs. 1and 5, the end passing under the wire, as shown at 9 Another wire g isfastened in like manner to the other side of the sleeve (Z and is strungthrough the staples h and made .fast to a post a certain distance in theopposite direction. The wires each rest on an annular shoulder 1' and 0around the sleeve d.

In the operation of the device a wrench j is used. The wrench j spansthe sleeve d, its ends is and lo entering two of the notches ein saidsleeve. By a partial turn of the sleeve d in direction of arrow in Fig.2 the shoulder 0' becomes disengaged from the shoulder e and the sleeved can be raised clear of the lugs c and turned in the same direction asuflicient distance to cause the wire to become taut, when the sleeve ispressed down over the collar b, the lugs c registering with the notchese. \Vhen the wrench j is released from the sleeve cl, the lateralstrainef the wires g and g on said sleeve will cause the shoulders c ande to engage and thereby lock the device. The strain also holds the wiresecure at its attachment to the lug f, owing to said wire crossingitself and binding at g Fig. 5, the strain on said sleeve being so greatthat it is impossible to move the sleeve without the aid of a wrench. Ifit is desired to slacken the wire, the revolution of the sleeve 61 issimply reversed. The sleeve cZ may have a flange Z around the topthereof forming a covering to prevent rain or snow entering between thesleeve cl and drum ICO b. In case said flange is used,it is preferableto have the drum dished, as indicated by dotted lines :0, Fig. 4. Thewater will then pass down between the drum 1) and the post a, to whichthere is no objection. The outer circumference of the drum may besmooth. It may have grooves m running vertically, as shown in Figs. 2and 4, or it may be corrugated, as found most desirable in the practicalworking of the device, the purpose of the grooves or corrugations beingto facilitate the passage of rain or snow. The grooves 72, Fig. 2 and 3,are preferably used in the drum next to the sides of the post a for thesame purpose.

lVhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A wire-tension device consisting of a collar or drum rigidly securedto a post and provided with shouldered lugs, a sleeve encircling saiddrum, havingin its lower edge shouldered notches corresponding to saidlugs, and means for attaching the wire to said sleeve, substantially asset forth.

2. In a wire-tension device, a sleeve having an annular shoulder,shouldered notches in its lower edge, and means for attaching wiresthereto, in combination with a collar rigidly secured to a pos andprovided with lugs arranged to register with the notches in the sleeve,substantially as described.

3. In a Wire-tension device, the combination, with a drum rigidlysecured to a post having its outersurface channeled and provided withextended lugs, of a surrounding sleeve having eyes with lugs therein forattaching the wires and notches that register with the lugs on the drum,substantially as set forth.

at. In awire-tension device, the combination, with a post, of a drumsecured thereto, dished at the top, and having projecting lugs, a sleevesurrounding said drum, having notches and eyes, as described, andprovided with a flange extending inwardly over the top of the drum, andwires attached to the sleeve, substantially as shown.

In testimony whereof I a'liix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALCUIN E. KINTNER. Vitncsses:

W. H. BURRIDGE, F. A. CUTTER.

